Combination packaging and display unit



Feb. 16, 1954 R. s. RAILTON COMBINATION PACKAGING AND DISPLAY UNIT FiledFeb. 9, 1953 Y 7 7M WVW Patented Feb. 16, 1954 COMBINATION PACIAING ANDDISPLAY U I Richard S. Railton, Berkeley, Calif.

Application February 9, 1953, Serial No. 335,677

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and improved combination packaging anddisplay unit.

The present invention has been found to have particular utility inproviding a novel combination package and display device for relativelyfiat articles of merchandise, such as, for example, phonograph records.The package unit constructed according to the present invention may bearranged and utilized so as to provide a protective retainer or packagefor the article, in which form the package may be shipped or stacked inthe usual manner in flat package form; or alternatively, the unit may bereadily converted and arranged so as to provide a neat and attractiveself-supporting display stand whereby the packaged article can beattractively exhibited as a counter display.

The particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawings, and which will be hereinafter described in greater detail, isformed of an integral substantially rectangular length of foldable sheetmaterial, such as cardboard, chipboard, or the like. The length of sheetmaterial is formed with at least two spaced transverse fold linesdelineating the sheet material into three sections, sometimeshereinafter called the display section, cover section, and tab section,respectively. The con struction of the device is such that the coversection may be folded into flat overlying position with respect to thedisplay section and with the tab section folded around in back of thedisplay section so as to form a relatively flat package unit. The lengthof sheet material can also be folded to form a self-supportingtriangularshaped stand with the display and cover sections defining thesupporting sides or legs of the triangular stand, and with the tabportion forming a base support for said triangular stand.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide acombination package unit which may be selectively converted to functioneither as a flat protective package for an article of merchandise or,alternatively, as an attractive self-supporting display stand for thepackaged article.

A more specific object is to provide a device of the character brieflyhereinabove mentioned and which incorporates means for protectivelyenclosing and retaining a packaged article when the device is employedas a flat package unit, and other means for supporting a packagedarticle in visible display position when the device is converted tofunction as a display stand.

Other advantages and objects of the invention are to provide a unit ofthe character mentioned above which may be manufactured out ofrelatively inexpensive material and with a minimum of waste in material.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the fo1lowing specification and referring to theaccompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference representcorresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank of sheet material out of which the unitmaybe fabricated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device folded in the form of atriangular self-supporting stand.

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 showing the manner whereby articles ofmerchandise may be supported in display position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the unit folded in the form of a flatpackage.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, it is seen how the entireunit may be preferably formed out of a single integral blank of sheetmaterial, such as cardboard, chipboard, or the like. In the embodimentshown, the length of material is formed with a plurality of transversefold lines, indicated at HI, I l, and 12, respectively, delineating anenvelope forming section l3, a display section I4, a cover section [5,and a tab section it.

Section 13 is formed with an enlarged cutout I 7 extending inwardly fromits terminal edge I8. An integrally formed parting tab l9 may also beformed to project outwardly from cutout IT, for reasons to be explainedhereinafter.

Display section 14 and cover section I 5 are each preferably formed withlaterally extending flap portions, indicated at 2| and 22, respectively,which are adapted to be folded inwardly along associated fold lines 22:?and 24 in overlying position relative to their respectively associatedsections [4 and I5. Moreover, sections l4 and [5 are of equal length-4.e., fold lines w and [2, respectively, are both spaced equidistantly toopposite sides of fold line H. Tab section It is made preferably aboutone-half the length of section [4 and I5. The sides of tab section I6may be beveled or inclined inwardly, as at 26, and the terminal edge ofsection 16 is formed with an outwardly projecting integral tab or ear21. The blank of sheet material is also incised to form a slit 28extending along fold line [0, a transversely extending display articlesupporting slot 29 disposed adjacent the middle transverse axis ofdisplay section l4, and an arcuate slit 3| located between slot 29 andfold line H.

In assembling the device, section I3 is folded along fold line I intooverlying position with respect to the obverse side 14a of displaysection l4. Section [3 may be permanently secured in overlying positionwith respect to section M by applying adhesive 32 to flaps 2|, which, inturn, may be folded inwardly" into overlying, perma; nently adhered}engagement with" the marginal side edges of section [3. It is seen thatwhen the foregoing named elements are assembled in the above fashion,section l3 and M establish; in effect, an envelope type opening orpocket into which may be inserted a relatively fiat article to bepackaged, such as a phonograph record oi 'tlie like, indicated at 33. Anadhesive coating is also applied to flaps 22 of section I'S whereby saidflaps 22 can be folded inwardly into adhesive engagement with theobverse side edges of section and thereby provide marginalrigidity 110,;and reinforcement of,.-the marginal-side edges of said cover section. VH

As hereinabove explained, a unit constructed in accordance with theinvention-in y be converted to function either-as a-relativelyfiat-protective package, such; asshown in Fig. 4,- or,- alternatively,as a self-supporting; display stand, such as indicated in-Figs. 2-;-and3.- g

More specifically, theunitmay be folded into its fiat package form withcover section folded along foldline l lintoflat overlying position withrespect to the obverse side Ma ot display section l4; and with tabsection It f olded'around the terminal edge of" section l4 intooverlying engagement withrespect to the reverse side Mb of section MIThe unitf-may be releasably inter: loclied' in its package form-byinserting ear 21 of tab section |5-into engagement with arcuate slit 3|formed'throughsection M. It is understood, of course, that priortofoldin'gthe unit into its packageform, the article to be packaged, suchasphonograph record-33", would be insertedwithin the envelope opening orpocket defined by sections l3" and II.

Figs. 2 and3" illustrate how'th'e unit may be foldedand arranged intoaself-supporting dis play stand generally triangular in endelevationwith the display and cover'se'ctions F4 and- 15 defining thesupporting" sidesor legs of the triangle, and the tab section I6defining the sup porting base piece forthe'sta'nd; Mere specifically, inthis latter 'embodimehtthe' cover section 15 is foldedbackwardlyalongfold'lin'e' I l toward' the reverse side of display section I4, and withthe tab section lfi'folde'd along'fold line l '2"t'o'- ward" display"section M; Ear 2110f section 16 may be inserted upwardly in slit 28 toreieasatly' lock the unit in its display'stand for'r'ii.

Fig. 3 shows how 'the'di'splay stand'ma'ybe em ployed to attractivelysupport and exhibit" pack: aged articlesas'a store counter display;or'the' like. More specifically, it is seenho'wa pheno graph record orsimilar item may bes'upported in display position simply byinsertin'gtheflower" extremities of the'record within slot] 29 formed throughdisplay section [4: Fig. 3"alsodisclose s how descriptive literature orpamphlets,- asindi cated-at 34 and 35 ,-respectively'; relating to thepackaged merchandise article may I be sup o'rtee within the pocketopeningl In theembddimehf or the invention shown, parting tab" Wmay beesampierbrpurpessor clarity of understanding,

it is understood that certain changes and modificaucus maybe made withinthe spirit of the invention as limitedonly by the scope of the claimappended heretb.

I claim:

A combination package and display unit formed'of foldable sheet-materialcomprisingzan integral, generally rectangular length ofsheet materialformed with first, second and third spacedparaileltransverse fold linesdefining: said sheet into contiguous irst; second,' third; and fourthtransversely delineated sections; the re spective lengths of said secondand third sections being substantially equal and-the length of saidfourth section being substantially less than the length of either saidsecond or third sections'; said first sectionfolded along said firstfold line into overlying: position with respectto the obverse side ofsaid second-section; the mar' ginal side edges of said firstsectionsecured to the obverse side edges ofsaid second section; said first andsecond overlying: sections defining a pocket opening; said length ofsheet material foldablealong: saidsecondand third fold linesintoa-relatively flat package'unitwitlrsaid thirdsection flatlyoverlying the obverse side 'ofsaid second section and-with said-fourthsection extending around the terminal edge" of said-secondsection intofiat overlying position against" the reverse side of said secondsection; said length of sheet material also foldable along said secondand third fold lines into adisplay-stand generally' triangular in endelevation, and-with said-third section folded-bacicover toward thereverseside' of saidsecond section at anacute angle withrespect thereto;whereby said =second-and= third" sections define supporting legs-of thetriangular stand, and with said" fourth section folded toward 'theterminal edge of said'second'section defining a supporting base for saidtriangular stand; means for releasably locking said folded sheetmaterialin its'package form; andnmeans" for releasably locking said folded-sheetmaterialin its display stand form.-

RICHARD s. RA'iLToNi References Cited in the file of this patent--'UNITED STATES PATENTS"

